Japanese scops owl

The Japanese scops owl (Otus semitorques) is an owl which is a resident breeder in Japan. It is also found in China, Korea and Russia.[1]

Japanese scops owl
Otus semitorques pryeri on Okinawa

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Otus
Species:
O. semitorques
Binomial name
Otus semitorques

This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains over 90% of owl species. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.

It is closely related to the Indian scops owl (O. bakkamoena), collared scops owl (O. lettia), and Sunda scops owl (O. lempiji). These four species are sometimes considered conspecific, and the combined species is then known as collared scops owl (O. bakkamoena).

It nests in tree hollows. The call of the male is a low sad sounding whoop.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2014). Otus semitorques. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3


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